Mombasa Forms Technical Working Group to Boost Disaster Preparedness

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Mombasa County has stepped up efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness through the formation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) in partnership with key stakeholders.

The initiative aims to streamline coordination and improve response to disasters across the county through the development of structured guidelines and a comprehensive framework.

According to the director of the Mombasa Disaster Management Unit Ibrahim Basafar some of the targeted disasters include floods, fires, road accidents, incidents of people drowning at sea, as well as disease outbreaks.

“We are developing technical working group guidelines to outline the roles specifically to every actor. We don’t believe in response we believe on being proactive,” he stated.

The framework, which is currently at the improvement stage, seeks to ensure the allocation of a dedicated budget for disaster response while also strengthening technical capacity and the availability of essential equipment.

“Disaster has three levels and one of them is technical. In disaster preparedness never starts when there is a case, so we have to be ready all the time with all multi-agency structures in place,” he said.

The director emphasized the need for structured coordination among agencies.

“Multi-agencies must work together and for them to do that we must have terms of reference to outline the work of every agency in this case, so that we have common objective of serving the public and protecting property.”

The officials spoke during a validation workshop on TWG terms of reference held at Sapphire Hotel in Mombasa.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from various sectors in a collaborative effort to strengthen disaster management systems.

The session was supported by Dream Achievers Youth Organization (DAYO) in collaboration with Mombasa County and the Kenya Meteorological Department.

Mombasa deputy county commissioner, Mary Mburu said the initiative is intended to enhance the efficiency of emergency response and reduce the impact of disasters on residents.

The workshop focused on improving coordination, strengthening early warning systems, and aligning disaster preparedness and response efforts across the county.

Ms Mburu stressed the importance of joint action between national and county governments in disaster management.

“It’s about being proactive as opposed to being reactive, and this is by pulling our strings together to avert any disasters,” she added.

At the same time, DAYO project coordinator Linda Indimuli urged the public to take disaster warnings seriously.

“We urge the public to take serious all the reports they get from our agencies like red cross, Kenya meteorological department to avert being caught up in disasters,” she said.

The initiative comes amid increasing climate-related risks, including floods and extreme weather events, highlighting the need for proactive and resilient systems.

A key highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the draft Terms of Reference which lays the foundation for structured engagement, accountability, and coordination within the TWG.

Participants also engaged in group discussions to review the document, identify gaps, and propose practical improvements to enhance its effectiveness.

The efforts are part of the broader DARAJA Project, a three-year programme running from October 2025 to March 2028 focused on building climate-resilient and inclusive urban communities in Mombasa’s informal settlements.

The project is implemented by Dream Achievers Youth Organization in partnership with Resurgence, (KDI), and the Kenya Meteorological Department through the Weather and Climate Information Services (WISER) Programme, with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).